The Truth about Web Development Companies, Search Engine Optimization and The Con Artists in these Specialities

While the Internet has become an irreplaceable key instrument and resource in business conduct today, it has also become a gateway that many con artists use to gain access to clients who don't know enough about the Internet to tell a tale from the truth. Although there is no tool of verification yet, there are other logical means of determining whether or not a potential company will be able to live up to their promises. These we will discuss later.

I have been doing extensive research on the ethical conduct of web design companies. I am utterly shocked at the number of companies who claim to offer unbelievable Search Engine Optimization Techniques which will give you the number one slot in Google, only to find that their own Google Ranking is a mere 2 or 3. I am convinced that there are as many 'criminal companies' out there as there are websites. Building backlinks take hard work and hundreds of man-hours. As much as even I would like to believe, there is no 30-minute technique to building over 1,000 backlinks. Companies offering 'become number one in Goolge in 48 hours' schemes are out to steal your money.

We dare not tread on the number of web design companies who offer websites at magical prices, but when you look closely at their portfolio, they have designed websites which I wouldn't let my domestic pet look at without feeling embarrassed.

Web design is unfortunately not a skill that we are blessed with at birth. Like many other things in life, it takes constant practice, research as well as constant trial & error to be able to design a website which is aesthetically pleasing and functional, all while bearing the requirements of Search Engine Optimisation in mind. A lack of any one of these 3 properties in a website could be detrimental to the overall effectivity of a site and business.

So when you are evaluating a web design company, look at the following:

 

1. Is your potential web development company's website aesthetically pleasing?

 

2. Is their site functional? Could you find your way around without having to wonder where to click next?

 

3. Do they have a portfolio? How do sites in their portfolio compare to their own? If all the sites are equally as good (in their own right, of course), chances are your will too.

 

4. Could you find them in a popular search engine like Google or Yahoo?

 

5. If they are offering Search Engine Optimisation, what is their own Google Ranking? How many backlinks are pointing to their site? How relevant are those backlinks?

These are a few of the logical things you need to know. Always meet with your potential web design company's representative in person. Are they well presented?

Finally, be careful. I am honestly disappointed in humankind after seeing the kind of services on offer. People are desperate to sell just about anything these days. Faith in humankind is just not enough in this industry.

By Johan Botes

Jay Squared Web Development

http://www.jay-squared.co.za